(J.M. Bourne, P.W.D.)
Given by Miss J. Bourne.
Bombay, Hyderabad, Madras: 1882-1919; Madras: 1965-1980
Boxes 1-2
Envelope containing 18 Letters from J.M. Bourne from Belgaum, Dharwar, Singatgiri, to his children in England, 1913-1918. (No. 9 is from the children’s ayah). 56pp.
Description of bungalow on Godaveri, and the bridge over Godaveri. Descriptions of his work, heat and daily life, monsoon conditions, laying track, putting electric bells in bungalow, the garden and mentioning the war. About his promotion and new work in Dharwar, and joining Indian Defence Force, a panther beat and shoot. Mentions railway construction in connection with war requirements in some detail, for the railway between Alnawar and Dandelli in the Canara jungle.
Envelope containing: 17 Letters from Mrs Hilda Bourne in India to her daughters in England. Rajamundry, Belgaum 1914 ?
Describes: bear hunt and bazaar in detail. Gives detailed account of daily life, including attending an Indian wedding, and the Kolakondu Festival: farewell party at Rajamundry, outlines her and her husband’s work for the railway staff. Life in Belgaum; new baby, Describes preparations for her husband to go off on construction of Alnawar-Dandelli line (see (1)). Underlying attitudes.
Special passport issued to Mrs Bourne for her return home to England in November 1918.
Shikar diary kept by J.M. Bourne 1908-1909.
Shikar diary for 1912.
Appointment of J.M. Bourne as an Officer in the Volunteer Forces of India, 27 September 1917. (Envelope marked: Record of service with the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Co. Ltd.)
The War Graves of the British Empire: cemeteries in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, etc. Register. London, Imperial War Graves Commission 1931. (J.M. Bourne’s death recorded).
Papers relating to Sir Alfred Bourne. Statement and testimonials in support of Mr. Alfred Gibbs Bourne’s Candidature for the Chair of Natural Science in Auckland University College, New Zealand, from Prof. T.H. Huxley et al. (pp. 5-12 missing). 1882.
Letter from the Rajah of Cochin requesting help in selecting a Principal for the second grade college at Ernakulam. Coonoor 21 May 1914.
Letter from the India Office to Sir Alfred Bourne asking if he has information about starting a College for women in Madras under the auspices of numerous British and American Missionary Societies. 1915. 3pp. Sir Alfred Bourne’s comments in MS on back page.
Government of India. Paper 461 of 1914 Finance Department 11 December 1914. Proposal to establish a separate Government College for Women in Madras. 3pp.
Enclosure: No. 615 of 27 May 1914, outlining beginning of proposed Government College. 3pp.
Letter confirming Sir Alfred Bourne on the Government Mailing list for Annual Reports of Public Instruction in the Madras Residency. 2pp.
Presidential address by Sir Alfred Bourne to the Indian Science Congress 1917. 16pp.
Times of India Illustrated Weekly: Royal Durbar Number, 1911. Items 9-12 inclusive have been catalogued as photographs 4, 5, 6, 7 at end.
Envelope containing:
The Royal Engineers’ Journal December 1975 No. 4. Article: ‘Breakfast in Bangalore’ by Major G. Horne RE.
Newspaper cutting: Daily Telegraph n.d. A.L. Rowse: ‘Our century of humbug’; on attitudes to the Empire and liberalism in the 30s with particular reference to the Indian Empire, and E.M. Forster’s Passage to India.
TS Single sheet ‘Some Reflections of a Nursing Sister in India 1945/46’, by Ann Radloff, October 1980.
‘It was like this’, by Hilda Bourne, TS memoir of life in India 1903/1918. 221pp with appendices; bazaar list; list of things used by two men for ten days (with Railway available, without tents). Afternoon at home for about 50 to 60 people out of doors. Recipes for cider cup, ice-creams. Events for Skittle gymkhana. The memoir describes life of a railway engineer’s wife in the Madras Province, in great detail, as she followed him in his postings. Domestic and social and descriptive of all environments, and charmingly written.
Tin cylinder containing replica of the memorial tablet to J.M. Bourne, in St. Giles’ Church, Rajahmudry and service sheet for the unveiling on 17 February 1919.
Cylinder containing J.M. Bourne’s Certificate of Associate Membership of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 7 April 1908.
Farewell address from the employees of the Madras and Mahratta Railway to J.M. Bourne on leaving Gooty, 6 January 1909, printed on blue silk.
Farewell address from the employees of the Madras and Mahratta Railway, to J. M. Bourne on leaving Godaveri for Belgaum (1916) printed on cream silk.
Brochure: St. Giles’ Church Rajamundry Diamond Jubilee 30 April 1916 – April 1976. 14pp. Photographs. (includes silk commemorative bookmarker).
(a-c) Three letters from Mr. Vernon Faraday, Lay Trustee and Preacher of St. Giles’ Church, Rajamundry to Mrs. Anne Radloff about the congregation and life of St. Giles.
Six letters from members of St. Giles’ Church Rajamundry, to Miss Bourne, about the Church in 1979/80.
Christmas card enclosing photographs of priests and deacons at ordination at St. Giles’ Church, Rajamundry. (1965 and 1967).
Signatures of all the congregation at St. Giles’ Church Rajamundry, 5 February 1978, sent to Mrs. Bourne on her 100th birthday.
Book: Illustrated Guide to the Madras Railway, compiled and illustrated by F. Dunsterville (the Company’s Chief Auditor) Madras, Higginbotham & Co. 1898. Photographs and text of places which can be visited from the Madras railway.
TS by Erica Farquharson: ‘Indian Idyll.’ An account of extremely happy childhood memories of India. 35pp.
